As coronavirus infections soar within Kuwait’s expat community, the state government is mulling a total lockdown of all foreign residence areas.

As the emirate reports 77 new cases, 74 of whom are expatriates, its first death was declared on Sunday and its total of confirmed infections increased to 556. The vast majority of the new cases involve expats from India, with Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Iranians and Egyptians. To date, no Western expatriates have been reported as having the virus. In addition to possible lockdowns in expat areas, the Kuwaiti government is also considering increasing the curfew hours.

In Bahrain, 12 more cases have been recorded, taking infections to a total of 700, with Saudi Arabia announcing 2,402, the UAE 1,799 and Qatar 1,604. Sunday’s chartered Emirates flight repatriated 345 British expats, with more expected to follow as the infection rate increases. Iran’s total of covid-19 infections is now at a frightening total of 60,500. Dubai is now in lockdown for two weeks, with one person per household allowed to leave to get basic supplies of food, and Kuwait has now announced expats will be deported if they violate its curfew rules.

Expats living and working in Oman or elsewhere in the UAE who’re outside the country at present will be prevented from returning for at least two more weeks. All those holding valid residency visas will now face denial of entry and are being advised to contact their emirate’s Residence Service for more information as regards their safe return.

As for expats attempting to sit it out in Kuwait, they’re still angry about reports of a famous Kuwaiti actress who made her feelings known by suggesting Kuwaitis are ‘fed up’ with sick expats taking up scarce hospital beds during the ongoing crisis. Her suggestion was to dump all sick expats in the desert, thus freeing up much-needed beds for Kuwaiti nationals.